Thomas koctika



Patented Mar. 28, |899. T. KOCHKA. l

TOY BOWLING ALLEY.

(Application filed Jam. 17, 1899.)

(N0 Model.)

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raras Nttn PATENT turca@ TOY BOWLING-ALLEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 621,967, dated March 28, 1899.

Application filed January 17, 1899. Serial No. 702,402. (No model.)

T0 a/ whom, t Wzlafy concer-1t:

Be it known that I, THOMAS KooHKA, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, county and State of New York, have invented new and Auseful Improvements in Toy Bowling-Alleys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a toy bowling-alley of the class in which the pins are connected by strings to a common slide or cross-head, so that they may be collectively set up.

The invention consists in means for adjustably connecting the strings to such slide in order to compensate for slack, in improved means for swiveling the propeller to the gameboard, and in other features of improvement, all as hereinafter more fully pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is aplan of my improved toy bowling-alley; Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal section on line 2 2, Fig. l;A Fig. 3, a bottom view with the parts n n partly broken away; Fig. 4, a sect-ion on line 4 4, Fig. 3; Fig. 5, an end view, partly in section, of the game-board; and Figs. 6 and 7, details of the split bearing ij.

The letter a represents the game-board or table, perforated at a beneath each of the pins b. Strings c, attached to the lower ends of the pins, pass through these perforations and extend beneath transverse rollers d to a common cross-head e, to which they are connected. The cross-head is operated by a handle e', surrounded by a spring e2. By drawing th'e handle of the cross-head forward a pull will be exerted upon all of the strings c to set u p the pins b. The releasing of thehandle will cause the spring e2 to draw the cross-head inward, so that the strings care slackened and the righted pins may be bowled over.

In course of time the strings c are apt to unevenly stretch, so that if compensating means are not provided the movement of the plunger will set up some but not all ofl the pins. To overcome this difficulty, I adjustably attach each of the strings c to the crosshead e, so that the length of every string may be separately regulated.

The adjusting means consist of longitudinally-perforated screws f, tapped into transverse openings of cross-head e and adapted to receive the strings c, which pass entirely through such screws and have knotted ends back of the screws. Thus a turn of the screw will lengthen or shorten the working length of each string without, however, twisting the same.

The propeller for projecting the ball against the pins is swiveled to the game-board, so that it may be pointed in different directions. It consists of a scoop or ball-seat g, secured to a pair of parallel bars g', surrounded by springs g2 and carrying a handle g3. The bars g are surrounded between the springs and handle by a swivel-plate h, having upper and lower pivots 7L. gage the perforations t" j of a split bearing ij, embracing the swivel-plate and itted within an opening formed in the front rim a2 of game-board a. The lower bearing j has flanged edges jz, Fig. 7, to grasp the edge of the opening, while the upper bearing t has corresponding flanges t2 and a flanged perforated top 3, adapted for the reception of the fastening-screws. By means of this bearing the propeller may be quickly and firmly secured to the game-board in such a manner that it may be freely pointed in any direction.

The legs 7a of the alley are pivoted and'may be folded flat against the lower side of table a. To each'leg is pivoted a diagonal brace lo', provided at its free end with a pin k2,

guided within a slot Z of a longitudinal rail Z, that extends underneath board a at a short distance from its longitudinal edge. Stays m, pivoted on Vertical pivots to a supportingblock fm', are adapted to engage the inner edges of the braces la' when the legs are swung down, and thus lock the latter in their open position. When the legs are folded, the stays m are swung bodily over the lower sides if the same to lock them in their closed posotion against table a.

The operating part-s of the alley are protected by a bottom plate n and alid n', hinged at n.2 and of a width to extend between the longitudinal rails Z.

What I claim isl. In a toy bowling-alley, the combination of a perforated gameboard,with pins,a tapped movable cross head, longitudinally perforated screws engaging the cross-head, and

strings that are connected to the pins and- These pivots en IOO pass longitudinally through the perforated screws, said strings having knotted ends back of the screws, substantially as specified.

2. In a to)7 bowling-alley, the combination of a gaine-board having a notched rim, with upper and lower bearings having flanges that grasp the edges of the rim-notch, means for securing the upper bearing to the rim, a perforated swivel-plate turning in the bearings, and a propeller embraced by the swivel-plate, substantially as specified.

3. In a toy bowling-alley, the combination of a gaine-board With'pivoted legs, diagonal THOMAS KOCIIKA.

Witnesses:

F. v. BRIESEN, WILLIAM MILLER. 

